Etymologically
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optime

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Pronunciation

  • Classical: [ˈɔp.tɪ.meː][1]
  • Ecclesiastical: [ˈɔp.ti.me][1]

Forms

optimē (superlative)[1] It is also spelled optumē.[2][3]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin optimus (“best”) + -ē, and serves as the superlative of bene.[2][1] The origin of the adjective is debated: Cowgill, Leumann and Sihler, whom de Vaan follows, take it as a superlative of ob (“towards”), “uppermost” or rather “foremost”, while Walde–Hofmann's ⟨*opi-tVmo-⟩ “most powerful”, connected with ops (“power”), seems to him much less likely; the OLD gives the link with ⟨ops⟩ as a possibility.[4][2]

Earliest recorded meaning

Plautus, Pseudolus: ōrnātus hic mē satin condecet? – optimē habet, “does this outfit suit me well enough? – perfectly”.[2]

Semantic evolution

Optimē means “best, most satisfactorily”, and Plautus already has the colloquial factum optimē!, “well done!”, and optimē!, “excellent!”, often ironic or simply agreeing.[2] It is also used of knowing or seeing most clearly (meās nōvī optimē, “I know my daughters very well”), of things happening most opportunely (quem quaerō optimē eccum obviam mihist, “just the man I'm looking for, coming towards me”), and of conduct, in the phrase optimē merērī dē aliquō, “to deserve best of someone”.[2] Classical writers use it of dress and style, of what sounds best (Cicero), and of the best outcome, as quam optimē vendere, “to sell at the best price”.[2][1]

Timeline

  • c. 250–184 BC – Plautus: optimē habet and factum optimē.[2][5]
  • 86/82 BC – The Rhetorica ad Herennium of a lyre player dressed in the best style.[2][5]
  • 81–43 BC – Cicero of the best-sounding word and the best price.[2][5]

Meanings

Adverb

  1. (superlative of bene) Best, very well, excellently.[2][1]
  2. optimē factum!, optimē!: Well done! bravo! excellent![2]
  3. Most clearly or accurately; thoroughly.[2][1]
  4. Most opportunely, just in time; most fittingly.[2][1]
  5. Most commendably, most kindly;[2] optimē merērī dē aliquō, to deserve best of someone.[2]
  6. In the best style; most agreeably; with the best result.[2]
  • optimās
  • optimitās
  • optimus
  • bene

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h Wiktionary, the free dictionary, https://en.wiktionary.org
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Glare, P. G. W., ed. (2012), Oxford Latin Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Oxford University Press
  3. ^ Lewis, Charlton T.; Short, Charles (1879), A Latin Dictionary, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ de Vaan, Michiel (2008), Etymological Dictionary of Latin and the other Italic Languages, Leiden Indo-European Etymological Dictionary Series 7, Leiden; Boston: Brill
  5. ^ a b c Köbler, Gerhard (2010), Lateinisches Abkunfts- und Wirkungswörterbuch für Altertum und Mittelalter, online ed., koeblergerhard.de